Etihad Rail is launching passenger services across its national network today, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, through three main routes connecting Mohammed Bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi with Dubai Al Yalayes and Fujairah stations. The service will operate 10 daily trips between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and six daily trips between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
The company will operate Dubai–Abu Dhabi services throughout the day, with advance booking and guaranteed seating available. Fares start at 29 dirhams for the standard class and 89 dirhams for the premium class. Each train can accommodate up to 400 passengers and has a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour, while passenger numbers are expected to reach 10 million annually once full operations begin.
Integration with Dubai Metro and public transport options
Dubai Al Yalayes station is connected to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station by a dedicated pedestrian bridge, providing access to Dubai Metro’s Red Line and onward travel within the emirate. Transfer options from the station include taxis, buses, and drop-off and pick-up areas for private vehicles.
The service is integrated with the Nol card. Passengers can obtain a one-day Nol ticket when booking through the Etihad Rail app or website, and use the train ticket and Nol ticket through a unified QR code.
Tickets are available through the Etihad Rail app, the website and ticket vending machines at stations, while tickets for Dubai services went on sale on September 28. Train services include free Wi-Fi, charging points and luggage storage areas, in addition to guaranteed seating.
Supporting transport and economic growth
Azraa Al Mansouri, executive director of the commercial sector at Etihad Rail Passenger Services, said the launch of the national network represents “a landmark moment for the transport sector in the UAE” and will support economic growth while transforming how passengers travel across the country.
Al Mansouri added that each new destination joining the network expands access to passenger rail services. She said the network was designed to meet passengers’ needs and that the passenger rail project, which was an ambition less than five years ago, has become a network connecting areas across the country.
More than 150,000 passengers during the trial operation
The company used the trial operation phase on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route to improve the passenger experience after more than 150,000 passengers used the service. The route also recorded growth in repeat usage, while the average advance booking period reached about 10 days.
Amina Al Khalifi, director of strategy and growth at Etihad Rail, said linking passenger rail services with Dubai Metro and other mobility options makes it easier to continue journeys within Dubai and to other destinations. She added that schedules were designed to match passengers’ travel patterns and needs throughout the day.
New stations through March 2027
The network will expand with the addition of Zayed City and Liwa on November 30, followed by additional stations in the Al Dhafra region on December 30, and then a station in Sharjah on March 30, 2027.
At the regional level, the Hafeet Rail project is part of cross-border rail connectivity projects aimed at strengthening links between the UAE and Oman and supporting passenger and freight movement between the two countries.
